In need of a new vacuum cleaner? Consumer Choice has seven Choice Buys that will tackle your floors with gusto.

When looking for a new vacuum cleaner, some will be seeking out a robust model that can banish pet hair; some will focus on finding a model that tackles dust allergies; whereas some will just want something that won’t make too much of a racket. Vacuum cleaner manufacturers are aware of the varying priorities of different consumers and have tweaked their models accordingly with their specialities reflected in the product’s name. So a model with “Cat and Dog” or “Animal” in its name may appeal to pet owners who love their furry companions but are less keen on the hair they shed. Those sensitive to noise may favour a model with the perhaps overly ambitious reference to “Silence” in the title. And allergy sufferers may be drawn to the models that claim to be “Anti-allergy” or refer to a “HEPA” filter. However, in practice, many of our Choice Buys do a good job in all these areas, whether or not they indicate so in their product name.

Features to look for.

When shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, it is worthwhile checking out how heavy any potential purchase is. Make sure that the model you buy is a weight you can manage easily, especially if you will be carrying it up and down stairs or if you have back problems. It is useful if the shop lets you switch the vacuum cleaner on so you can hear for yourself how much noise it makes and you can also judge how easy it will be to manoeuvre.
There are also a number of features you might like to look for depending on your cleaning needs and priorities:

Cleaning Heads:

Vacuum cleaners can come with three kinds of cleaning head – power, turbo and standard. If pet hair is an issue in your home, a turbo head or a power head might come in useful. Both use a rotating brush inside the head to flick the carpet pile, loosening any embedded debris and then removing it. Power heads have a small electric motor in the head unit that turns the brush, whereas, with turbo heads, the brush is driven by a small turbine in the main airflow. Turbo heads do a great job of removing pet hair but power heads are better at deep cleaning carpets and both will need to be regularly cleaned of fibres and hairs that become tightly wrapped around the brush. Standard heads do not have a rotating brush and clean using suction alone. Standard heads are lighter, easier to manoeuvre and less bulky than turbo or power heads and the better ones perform well in terms of picking up dirt and pet hair from carpets and other flooring.

Adjustable head height:

Many vacuum cleaners let you adjust the height of the bristles on the cleaning head to match the length of the carpet pile you are working on or for hard surfaces.

Variable suction:

Vacuum cleaners often let you adjust the power level, so you can reduce the suction if you are undertaking delicate jobs like cleaning the curtains and then increase it again when you go back to tackling the floors.

HEPA filter:

Most vacuum cleaners suck up dust and dirt along with lots of air. They then filter that air through a dustbag or some other kind of filter and blow the filtered air back out through a vent. This can mean that fine particles like allergens and dust mites are expelled, causing problems for those with asthma or a dust allergy or sensitivity. One solution is to buy a vacuum cleaner that is fitted with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) or S-class filter that adheres to international standards for trapping very fine particles. These filters become less efficient as they get clogged with dust so they will need to be replaced or washed about once a year.

Telescopic tube:

It is useful if the vacuum cleaner has a telescopic tube that lets you adjust its length to suit your height so you can avoid awkward bending. A telescopic tube also makes for easier storage when the appliance is not in use.

Accessories:

Vacuum cleaners may come with various accessories or tools for example, a crevice nozzle for getting into fiddly corners or an upholstery brush for cleaning your soft furnishings. Some models allow you to handily store these tools within the body of the machine for easy access.

New EU rules on vacuum cleaners.

On the 1st September 2014, new EU energy labelling rules came into force that mean that manufacturers are not permitted to make or import vacuum cleaners that have a motor exceeding 1,600 watts. Once vacuum cleaner models with motors of more than 1,600 watts sell out in shops, it will not be possible for retailers to stock these higher wattage appliances. In addition, the rules require a minimum level of performance that a vacuum cleaner must meet in order to be sold in the EU. The new label includes A to G ratings for the vacuum cleaner’s energy use, its carpet cleaning performance, hard floor cleaning performance and dust re-emission back into the air. The noise level in decibels and average annual energy consumption in kWh is also indicated.

The new rules are aimed at tackling climate change through cutting Europe’s energy usage and the limits on vacuum cleaner wattage will be further reduced to 900 watts in 2017. According to the European Commission spokesperson on energy, Marlene Holzner, the amount of wattage does not automatically indicate how well a vacuum cleaner will clean, with the more important question being “how efficiently is the electrical power translated into picking up dust?” According to the European Commission, the new rules should help consumers to avoid paying for wasted electricity and have access to better quality vacuum cleaners.

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